Shop Vacuums
Originally in Workbench No. 259 (June 2000)
There may not be any tool that gets more use and less respect than a shop vacuum. Few of us could get by without one, but we sure seem to complain a lot about the ones we own. They're too noisy, they tip over, their hoses pop out, or they won't pick up what we're trying to clean up. Either we're a tough crowd to please, or the vacuums just aren't as good as they could be.
And I think the only tools available in more sizes are drill bits. Shop vacuums come in short and tall, fat and skinny, with everything from teeny-tiny fans to monster motors. All in all, that spells confusion for anyone looking to buy a new vacuum. To help clarify the process, I rounded up a few shop vacuums to see how they perform.
I settled on 16-gallon models, one of the top-selling sizes. Then I went to local stores to check the selection. I ended up with one vacuum each from Genie, Shop-Vac, Ridgid, and Craftsman.
By the way, it's worth noting that Ridgid and Craftsman vacuums are both made by Emerson Electric. So they're close cousins.
Okay, so how did these vacuums perform? I put all four through the same tests, detailed below, and came up with some recommendations.
Shop Vacuum Testing — An Overview
Testing shop vacuums sounds easy. Just make a mess, then clean it up, right? Actually, that's not too far off, though I did get a bit more scientific. Take a look at the photos at left to see a few of the tests I put these vacuums through. The chart below shows some of the test results.
Sucking up a 5-gallon bucket of chips isn't a common shop chore, but it's a
telling test. It shows whether a vacuum can keep up without clogging, and how
quickly it may suck up that big pile of sawdust under the table saw. I
clocked this test three times with each vacuum, and took the average.
I also filled the bucket with water to see how the vacs would perform if called on to slog out a waterlogged basement.
Sometimes it's necessary to pick up heavy objects such as spilled fasteners.
Sucking up several sizes of flat washers showed if the vacuums would pull
them into the drum — or leave them in the hose when the vac got shut
off.
Even with a 16-gallon drum, a vac needs to be emptied fairly often. I wanted
to know what it takes to dump solids and liquids from each vacuum.
Shop vacuums are all loud, but some are noisier than others. Standing 5-ft.
in front of the inlet with a decibel meter showed how loud each vacuum is
from a typical operating position. With ratings between 80- and 90-decibels,
these vacuums are noisier than most other machines in a shop.
Some of the other tests got interesting. Pulling each vacuum through an obstacle course of typical shop clutter showed if each one would track, stop, or fall over. All four vacuums did well. But the models with four swivel casters (Craftsman, Genie, Shop-Vac) moved through tight spaces more easily than the Ridgid which has two non-swiveling wheels.
Each vac was also rated for ease of assembly, changing filters, and more subjective measures such as quality and value.
Test Results at a Glance
| Vacuum | Vacuuming 5-gal. wood chips | Vacuuming 5-gal. water | Sound Level (decibels @ 5-ft.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Craftsman 113.177370 | 14.1 sec. | 9.4 sec. | 86 dB |
| Genie PRO 600Q | 12.2 sec. | 7.3 sec. | 90 dB |
| Ridgid WS1660 | 12.4 sec. | 9.6 sec. | 88 dB |
| Shop-Vac QSP PRO | 11.4 sec. | 9.6 sec. | 81 dB |
Shop-Vac QSP PRO 
The "QSP" in the Shop-Vac Pro's name stands for "Quiet Super Power." And
compared to most shop vacuums, this one is quiet. At 81 decibels it still
isn't something you want to listen to all day. But it helps during big
cleanup jobs or dust collection.
What makes it quieter is the exhaust. Instead of a single outlet port, there
are small openings around the motor. That breaks up the airflow, reducing
the sound. The drawback is the vacuum won't work as a blower.
Another drawback is that the sides of the drum wrap into the top. So the drum has to be turned completely upside down to be emptied.
On the plus side, the QSP Pro has a locking hose, an accessory caddy, and available fine dust bags. Combine those features with quiet operation, and this is my Editor's Choice.
At a Glance
- Price:
- $95
- Horsepower
- 6.0
- Amps:
- 12
- Contact:
- www.shop-vac.com
- (570) 326-3557
- Virtues:
- Quiet; hose lock; rolls easily; storage caddy; swivel casters.
- Vices:
- No blower port; Have to turn upside down to empty.
- Verdict:
- Overall, a great vac. And the quiet operation makes up for its minor shortcomings.
Ridgid WD1660 
The Ridgid WD1660 is a good shop vacuum with a split personality — it
doubles as a blower.
As a vacuum, the Ridgid has plenty of power for pulling up a wet or dry mess. Pulling the vacuum is easy too, thanks to a locking hose that releases with a spring-loaded latch. Once full, this vacuum's straight-sided drum empties easily.
To switch to blower mode, just push a release, and the motor pops off. The lid, filter, and drum stay behind, leaving a well balanced tool with a long (20-ft.) cord.
Downsides include noise (it's second loudest at 88 decibels), and a switch positioned great for blower use, but hidden in vacuum mode. If you need a good vacuum as well as a blower, then the Ridgid WD1660 is worth a look.
At a Glance
- Price:
- $129
- Horsepower:
- 6.25
- Amps:
- 12
- Contact:
- www.ridgidwoodworking.com
- (800) 474-3443
- Virtues:
- Powerful; removable blower; locking hose; easy to empty.
- Vices:
- Loud; poor switch location; no filter bag option.
- Verdict:
- Well-built and powerful, plus it works well in both vacuum and blower modes.
Craftsman 113.177370 
Craftsman shop vacuums have always been known for having strong suction. With
this 5.5-hp model, the tradition continues. It has good power for wet or dry
work.
The price for this power is noise. At 86 decibels, the Craftsman isn't as loud as some, but it'll still send you reaching for ear plugs. The lid latches could also lock more positively.
On the plus side, the Craftsman has the same locking hose as the Ridgid — a nice feature.
Worth noting is that this model is normally sold with four swivel casters and a few accessories for around $99. But watch for sales. I also picked up a "special" (it's shown in photo) that included a caddy base, muffler, and extra accessories for only $10 more.
Either way, the Craftsman is a good basic vacuum for the dollar.
At a Glance
- Price:
- $99
- Horsepower:
- 5.5
- Amps:
- 11.4
- Contact:
- www.craftsman.com
- (800) 377-7414
- Virtues:
- Powerful; easy to empty; reasonably priced; locking hose.
- Vices:
- Loud; friction-fit lid latches; no filter bag option.
- Verdict:
- This one has all the basics covered — a no-frills design that gets the job done.
Genie PRO 600Q 
Genie calls this vacuum a "Pro" model. And compared to the company's smaller
vacuums, this is a more substantial model, with plenty of suction power.
Compared to the other vacuums tested, though, the Genie feels less
heavily-built.
For example, the drum and hose are made of plastic that's thinner than the other vacuums. The tool caddy is flimsy too, and is held on with just one screw. These things make the Genie feel cheaper, yet it's priced about the same as the others tested. It's also loudest of the tested vacuums.
Another problem with this vacuum was a filter that fell off during use on several occasions. And the drum sides wrap far into the top, making the drum tough to empty. So while this vacuum is capable, it's not on par with the others tested.
At a Glance
- Price:
- $95
- Horsepower:
- 6.0
- Amps:
- 12
- Contact:
- www.geniecompany.com
- (800) 534-3643
- Virtues:
- Powerful; compact; rolls easily; drain accepts garden hose.
- Vices:
- Loudest in test; flimsy tool caddy; poorly-fitting filter.
- Verdict:
- The Genie does what it's asked to do, but it isn't as well built as similarly-priced vacuums.
Final Recommendations
So which of these four shop vacuums should you buy?
For general in-shop and around-the-house use, the Shop-Vac QSP Pro gets the Workbench Editor's Choice. This is mainly because of the quiet operation. But the Shop-Vac also offers plenty of power. The company also makes a wide array of optional accessories, filters, and a couple fine-dust bags that make cleanup easier.
If a shop vacuum and a leaf blower are both on your wish list, buy the Ridgid WD1660. It's pricier than other standard vacuums, but still less expensive than buying a leaf blower and a vacuum separately. Plus, it's a well-built machine.
A good basic vacuum is the Craftsman. At 5.5-hp, it may not have quite the suction of higher-power models, but what it has is more than enough.
The Genie has some problems, and the biggest is price. If it were 20% lower, this vacuum's shortcomings would be more acceptable. At close to $100, though, it's outclassed by the other three vacuums.
With those things said, I'll offer one more piece of advice. The real performance differences between the top three vacuums are slight. So you may want to scout for the best deal you can find and let price be the determining factor.
